Weekly Shopping--They Paid Me AGAIN!

I'm sure this isn't going to be a regular occurrence, but I got paid at the grocery store AGAIN this week! (It happened for the first time 2 weeks ago.) Again, I told the cashier I would use the catalina next week, but she said it was no problem to use it now. The lady behind me was impressed, and the cashier said, "yeah, and she does this every week." I said, "but I don't get paid every week!" After she handed me $3.35 from the register, a $2 OYNO catalina printed out (for the Pillsbury Grands). She said, "this expires in 2 weeks, but I know that won't be a problem for you since I'll see you next week!" You know it! :-)

In the interest of time, the girls helped me unpack my groceries, so everything is all in one picture. I went to three stores (it still only took me 1 1/2 hours, which is how long I normally spend shopping, especially if I am doing multiple transactions). Among all 3 stores, I spent a total of $33.87. My average savings at the two grocery stores was 81%. I got mostly produce and milk at Aldi, did two transactions at my regular store (which is where I got paid on my 2nd transaction), and got some coupon loss leaders at a local grocery store (since my store stopped accepting their coupons--oh well--it was a good run!).I had some coupons that were mailed to me from ConAgra, so I did the ConAgra catalina deal (buy $15, get $5 OYNO). After doubled coupons and catalina, I paid $0.26 TOTAL for Hunts tomato Sauce x5, Hunts diced tomatoes x4, Ro*Tel tomatoes x3, Van Camps baked beans x4, Egg Beaters (free ADC), and Fleischmans butter x2 (free ADC). That's like 1.5 cents per item!

These items were free: Pace salsa x2 (better than free--won the coupons from playing the sweeps--it was on sale for $3 and each coupon took off the full $4), Jell-O Mousse (free coupon from my SIL), Pillsbury Grands (better than free after coupons and catalina), Beech Nut baby food x3 (better than free--the cashier asked if my youngest was still on baby food at 19 months, but I told her that we always add veggie puree to our pancakes and since I had a coupon, I bought it--usually I make my own puree). Also, most of the ConAgra products I mentioned above were free.

These items were $1 or less: Broccoli, Carrots, Quaker oatmeal x2, Garlic bread loaves x3, Creamette pasta, Pop Secret popcorn x2, tortillas x4, chili beans, tortilla chips, eggs, 1/2 gallon chocolate milk, tuna x3, whole wheat english muffins, brown mustard, sausages.

The lady behind me said I must spend A LOT of time doing this. I probably spend more time than the average "Jane", since I peruse the ads, print coupons, and make a list, but really it isn't much time at all when you consider how much I save every week. If my "part-time job" of couponing takes me 2-1/2 hours a week and pays an average of $45 an hour, I consider it to be a good use of my time! :-)

Edited Friday to add: I stopped at one more grocery store to pick up their loss leaders because I decided to make a batch of my homemade yogurt and they had a gallon of milk for $0.99. So I spent $7.26 on eggs, milk, 32 oz plain yogurt (for a starter), Kraft mac n cheese x3, and butter, making my overall total for the week $41.13.

Has couponing proven to be a good use of your time?
Did you snag any good deals this week?
I like to hear from you, so please leave a comment!